Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hogs will win handily if they so please
FAYETTEVILLE — If these Arkansas Razorbacks care about their coaches, their pride and the supporting fans, state and the NIL sponsors they play for, they will play nearly infinitely better tonight than last Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas, 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the SEC, hosts the 4-6 Florida International Panthers of Conference USA at 6:30 tonight on ESPNU at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Off their lone SEC success, the 39-36 overtime game Nov. 4 at Florida, the Razorbacks came home to Fayetteville failing in all phases. They lost 48-10 to three-point SEC underdog Auburn. Arkansas lagged, falling behind 21-0 with 6:28 on the first quarter clock.
“I’m not sure we could have played worse,” Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said. “Just a shame coming off what we did [against Florida] last week.”
“Sure was,” rankled Razorbacks rooters retorted.
Arkansas’ popular offensive line coach from 2013-2015, Pittman was applauded statewide. His finances and security were boosted after his 9-4, 4-4 Outback Bowl winning second season as Head Hog in 2021. Contrast that to the consecutive 2-10, 0-8 seasons of his 2018-2019 predecessor Chad Morris.
The 2021 Pittman peak dipped a bit with last year’s 7-6, but not badly considering three SEC successes and a Liberty Bowl triumph.
Grumbling ensued this season, especially with a 38-31 nonconference loss to Brigham Young and SEC losses to Mississippi State and Auburn.
Pittman seemed to be getting fans back on board, posting Arkansas’ first-ever victory at Florida’s Swamp.
The train derailed vs. Auburn. FIU may not appear formidable, but any opponent has the teeth to bite Hogs wallowing like they did against Auburn, a decent 6-4 team, but no Alabama and LSU, both of which played to the three-point wire by Arkansas on the road.
Now comes FIU, reminding of Morris debacles vs. similarly disregarded North Texas, San Jose State and Western Kentucky.
The Hogs have the potential to win handily today if they deep down desire to. Defense could almost do it by itself if coordinator Travis Williams’ crew plays like previously against Auburn.
Special teams, with placekicker Cam Little excelling throughout, also mostly played well this season, but allowed Auburn’s punt return touchdown gut punch.
The offense, particularly the line so often unable to spring admittedly injury plagued, 2022 All-SEC running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, and protect Razorbacks record-setting dual threat quarterback KJ Jefferson, sputtered throughout 2023.
Yet under just-promoted from receivers coach to coordinator Kenny Guiton the offense revived with a season high 481 total yards winning at Florida.
So even at a no-bowl 3-7, Arkansas has the stuff to salvage into the Nov. 24 SEC finale hosting Missouri.
“We believe we can get this thing turned around, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Pittman said.
Tonight tells whether his Hogs care to share their coach’s belief.